Urinary tract infections during deployment, active component, U.S. Armed Forces, 2008-2013

Area of Science:

• Military Medicine
• Infectious Disease Epidemiology

Background:

• Austere deployment conditions may increase urinary tract infection (UTI) risk in service members.
• Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a significant concern for military personnel health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the incidence and risk factors of UTIs among deployed service members.
• To compare UTI rates between deployed and nondeployed service members.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of a 6-year surveillance period data for deployed service members in Southwest Asia and the Middle East.
• Calculation of UTI incidence rates per 1,000 person-years for both sexes.
• Comparison of UTI rates between deployed and nondeployed populations and identification of demographic and occupational risk factors.

Main Results:

• Deployed females (6.5%) and males (0.3%) experienced at least one UTI.
• First-time UTI incidence rates were 86.7/1,000 person-years for females and 3.3/1,000 person-years for males.
• Nondeployed personnel exhibited significantly higher annual UTI rates than deployed personnel.

Conclusions:

• Deployed service members, particularly females, are at risk for UTIs, with specific risk factors identified.
• Contrary to expectations, nondeployed personnel showed higher overall UTI rates, suggesting environmental or behavioral factors beyond deployment conditions.
• Pre-deployment UTI history is common among deployed individuals diagnosed with UTIs, highlighting the need for targeted screening and prevention.